Starz announced this week that the upcoming third season of "Da Vinci's Demons" would be the period drama's last, news which came as a surprise as the show had been a respectable performer for the network.

Speaking about the cancellation, network CEO Chris Albrecht tells Deadline that it essentially comes down to them having better performing shows that appeal to the same demographics:

"We really believe in serving underserved audiences in the premium cable space. The key is having shows that target a specific audience that becomes really passionate about the show. We have the success with Black Sails, which in some ways appeals to some of the same audiences, and while we have a lot of fan boys for Da Vinci's Demons, we have what may be the fan boy series of all time in Ash vs. the Evil Dead."

Starz continues to develop original programming to go toe to toe with the other premium networks like HBO, Showtime, and Cinemax. Along with the announcement that Black Sails will return for a fourth season, Starz revealed that the final season of series Da Vinci's Demons and limited series Flesh and Bone will be binge-released at once on October 24 and November 8, respectively.
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Starz CEO Chris Albrecht used his time at the Television Critics Association summer press tour to tout the premium cable network's expanded reach toward underserved demographics, entry into the binge watching business and resolve a flap with HBO programming president Michael Lombardo.
Here are the highlights of his 15-minute time in front of critics:
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Starz Renews 'Black Sails,' Developing 'Havana' Drama Starring Antonio Banderas
We're No. 2
Albrecht took the stage to declare his network the No. 2 most-subscribed premium cable network after Starz recently surpassed Showtime in the subscribers. The outspoken executive reiterated that

Airing on Saturdays, “Black Sails” kicked off its second season in January with 860,000 same-night viewers and concluded in March with 668,000 viewers. That finale total rose to about 1.2 million in Nielsen’s “live plus-3” estimates.

Pirate drama Black Sails is officially Starz’s flagship series after the pay cable network picked up a 10-episode fourth season of the show created by Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine and executive produced by Michael Bay. The announcement comes as Black Sails wrapped production on Season 3 and was made by Starz CEO Chris Albrecht at the top of the network’s TCA presentation today.
This marks another early renewal for the adventure drama, whose third season is not…
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It was Starz's turn Friday at the Television Critics Association press tour today where several major announcements about the premium cabler's original series were made.

First up they've renewed their big-budget pirate drama "Black Sails" for a fourth season with that next batch of ten episodes set to begin production this Fall in South Africa ahead of a Q1 2017 airing.

The renewal comes as the show's third season wraps production and goes to air in the first quarter of 2016 with Ray Stevenson joining this year in the role of Blackbeard.

Next up, the network has also revealed that they'll follow the Netflix model with both their eight-episode ballet-themed limited series "Flesh and Bone," and the ten-episode third and final season of their genre period action series "Da Vinci's Demons" set to launch all at once.

Starz subscribers will be able to watch the entire season either through Starz Play or
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The Sentence will mark Marshall’s first feature film since 2010’s Centurion, although he has directed a segment of the upcoming anthology horror Tales of Halloween. He also remains attached to a remake of Troll Hunter, as well as The Last Voyage of Demeter and Hellfest.

The 100 is adding to its numbers for Season 3. The post-apocalyptic CW series has recruited three new actors to join the show in recurring roles as Arkers and Grounders in its third season. As first reported by The Wrap, Black Sails‘ Zach McGowan will recur in The 100 Season 3 as a new character named Roan, “a rogue Grounder warrior who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.” No other details about McGowan’s character have been revealed. Additionally, as EW.com reported yesterday, Sons of Anarchy alum Michael Beach will also recur in another new Season 3 role. Beach will play an Arker named Pike, “a tough and charismatic member of the Ark with a staunch moral code.” Lastly, per Deadline, Neil Sandilands (The Americans, SundanceTV’s upcoming Hap & Leonard) has also landed a major Season 3 recurring role. Sandilands’ character Titus is described as “an embodiment of the Old Guard, who works to…
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Zach McGowan will recur in The 100's third season, playing a rogue Grounder named Roan, according to The Wrap. Like most characters on the survival-centric series, Roan “will stop at nothing to get what he wants,” though his desires remain shrouded in mystery for now.

Of course, McGowan isn’t the only familiar face you’ll be seeing on The 100 this fall; Michael Beach, best known for playing T.O. Cross on Sons of Anarchy, will recur as Pike,
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“Black Sails” actor Zach McGowan has joined the cast of The CW’s post-apocalyptic drama “The 100,” TheWrap has learned.
McGowan will play a new character named Roan on Season 3 and will appear in a recurring capacity. The character is described as a rogue Grounder warrior who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
The series is centered on 100 juvenile delinquents who are sent down to a potentially toxic Earth to test its habitability, and stars Eliza Taylor, Bob Morley, Marie Averopoulos, Paige Turco, Henry Ian Cusick and Isiah Washington.
Also Read: 45 First Looks of New TV Shows.
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A pirate’s life is more dangerous and adventurous than Hollywood would have you believe.

The real pirates of the Caribbean were more sinister, brutal and complex than Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew of hapless henchmen. All the stories, books and movies you have lived with have failed to offer any true experience into the plundering, lawless nature of pirates, the struggles they faced against an empire and the tragic nature of their fates.

The lives of Captain William Kidd, Edward ‘Blackbeard’ Thatch and Mary Read offer an adventure quite like no other…

Telly addict Andrew Collins reviews the week's TV. In light of attacks on the BBC, he sings the praises of literary adaptation The Outcast on BBC1; rock doc Rock'nRoll America on BBC4; nature jaunt Ireland's Wild River on BBC2; and returning mockumentary People Just Do Nothing on BBC3; plus pirate drama Black Sails on History and Inside the Kkk, to see that the commercial sector is in good health without asset-stripping the BBC

Hannah New loves that her 'Black Sails' character challenges gender stereotypes.
The 31-year-old actress - who stars as saloon owner Eleanor Guthrie in the adventure TV series - has revealed how much she relishes playing someone who's distinct from most females in period programmes.
Speaking exclusively to Bang Showbiz, Hannah explained: ''Eleanor is unlike any other female character you see in pirate dramas. She's grown up in a very tough situation and that's made her a strong woman, the sort you really see on screen.
''I really enjoyed the opportunity to play someone like Eleanor, who wasn't afraid to stand up to male
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